Arkansas soccer hits the road
Denise Bargiachi
Issue date: 9/5/08 Section: Sports
The Razorback soccer team travels to Jacksonville, Ala., to compete against the Jacksonville State Gamecocks Friday and the Samford Bulldogs Sunday in this weekend's Adidas Gamecock Classic.
Coming off a 4-3 win in their third game against Oral Roberts Sunday, the Razorbacks prepare to play another team they beat in 2007. Razorback midfielder Abbey Wilburn scored the first goal of the game in a record-breaking 20 seconds last season, leading the team to a 3-0 win.
Wins over Oral Roberts both this year and last improved the Razorbacks' record to 2-1 each season.
Goalkeeper Britni Williams shut out Jacksonville State last year in a game the Razorbacks won by five, but head coach Gordon Henderson said he has goals for his team that are not solely focused on adding wins to its record.
"We need to make sure we play soccer, but also compete," Henderson said. "Right now as we go into game four, our front line is still finding their feet a little bit. I think our mid-field is pretty settled. Defensively we are pretty sound."
"As a coach, I think at the end of the day we are creating more opportunities this year. We are creating different kinds of opportunities this year. I would just like to see us finish off a few of those."
In 2007, the Razorbacks had several close games they could not seem to "finish off," losing five games by one goal.
The game against the Gamecocks was not one of those close games last year. The Gamecocks are coming off a loss to Alabama, which dropped their record to 0-2-1 on the season.
Regardless of their record, Henderson thinks that both games will be competitive. "They should be two interesting games," Henderson said. "We're playing the host teams." "Anytime you play the host team they will have home support. I think [they will be] games that will be a similar kind of game to what we have just played this past weekend."
Henderson said the Razorbacks are "probably the underdog" against Samford.
But the Bulldogs (0-2) have not won a game this season, losing their exhibition game as well.
The team that was ranked fourth in the Southern Conference after the first preseason poll has experienced some changes this season as well, having switched conferences.
"It's definitely going to be a challenging season for us, and it's going to be different," said Samford head coach Todd Yelton. "Our players are used to being picked first in the poll and now we're fourth."
Despite the Bulldogs' shortcomings in their first couple of games, Henderson respects the team's potential. "I think the Samford game on Sunday should be against a very good team," Henderson said. "They made it to the NCAA tournament last year, as an at large berth. That should be another good test for us to see if we're ready for SEC play."
Coming off a 4-3 win in their third game against Oral Roberts Sunday, the Razorbacks prepare to play another team they beat in 2007. Razorback midfielder Abbey Wilburn scored the first goal of the game in a record-breaking 20 seconds last season, leading the team to a 3-0 win.
Wins over Oral Roberts both this year and last improved the Razorbacks' record to 2-1 each season.
Goalkeeper Britni Williams shut out Jacksonville State last year in a game the Razorbacks won by five, but head coach Gordon Henderson said he has goals for his team that are not solely focused on adding wins to its record.
"We need to make sure we play soccer, but also compete," Henderson said. "Right now as we go into game four, our front line is still finding their feet a little bit. I think our mid-field is pretty settled. Defensively we are pretty sound."
"As a coach, I think at the end of the day we are creating more opportunities this year. We are creating different kinds of opportunities this year. I would just like to see us finish off a few of those."
In 2007, the Razorbacks had several close games they could not seem to "finish off," losing five games by one goal.
The game against the Gamecocks was not one of those close games last year. The Gamecocks are coming off a loss to Alabama, which dropped their record to 0-2-1 on the season.
Regardless of their record, Henderson thinks that both games will be competitive. "They should be two interesting games," Henderson said. "We're playing the host teams." "Anytime you play the host team they will have home support. I think [they will be] games that will be a similar kind of game to what we have just played this past weekend."
Henderson said the Razorbacks are "probably the underdog" against Samford.
But the Bulldogs (0-2) have not won a game this season, losing their exhibition game as well.
The team that was ranked fourth in the Southern Conference after the first preseason poll has experienced some changes this season as well, having switched conferences.
"It's definitely going to be a challenging season for us, and it's going to be different," said Samford head coach Todd Yelton. "Our players are used to being picked first in the poll and now we're fourth."
Despite the Bulldogs' shortcomings in their first couple of games, Henderson respects the team's potential. "I think the Samford game on Sunday should be against a very good team," Henderson said. "They made it to the NCAA tournament last year, as an at large berth. That should be another good test for us to see if we're ready for SEC play."
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